Beverley was educated at Ellesmere Port Girl’s Grammar School. She went on to graduate with a BSc (Hons)from Manchester University in 1971, and a MSc for her postgraduate research into the treatment of schizophrenia from both Manchester and Liverpool Universities in 1978. Beverley is married with three children who all attended local primary and secondary schools, and currently lives in Manchester.
In 1986 Beverley was elected Councillor for the borough of Trafford, and went on to become leader of the Labour Group in 1992, and Trafford Borough Council Leader in 1995.
In 1997 Beverley was elected MP for Stretford and Urmston when 58.5% of the electorate voted for her. From June 1997 to July 1998 she served as a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee until her appointment as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Hilary Armstrong, Minister for Local Government and Housing. In July 1999 the Prime Minister appointed her to his Government as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, with responsibility for local government, regions, regeneration, planning and construction.
Following the general election in 2001, Beverley was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office, where she took through the emergency Crime and Anti-Terrorism legislation, which was passed in December 2001 following the events of September 11th. In the Cabinet re-shuffle of May 2002 she was appointed Immigration Minister, and stayed at the Home Office until April 2004.
Following the general election in 2005, Beverley was re-elected as MP for Stretford and Urmston, and immediately appointed Minister for Children, Young People and Families at the Department for Education and Skills. At the Cabinet re-shuffle of June 2007, Beverley remained in post and given responsibilities for Youth Justice and appointed Minister for the North West. Beverley also attends Cabinet when Social Policy issues are discussed.
In her own words:
"I’m delighted to be the Minister for the North West - my home region. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking and diverse region. We’ve been making great progress - but we know we still have many challenges. I look forward to working with local councils, private and voluntary agencies and key stakeholders at regional level to make sure we continue to promote the well-being of all our citizens."
Government Office for the North West
The Government Office for the North West works with organisations across the North West to deliver the Government’s policies and programmes in the region.
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